A SOPHIA resident is now a remanded prisoner after police said he was caught with 137 grams of cannabis during a search in front of a police station in the interior.The charge against Desmond Rigby, 33 years, stated that on May 23, at 70 Kilometer Police Outpost, Cuyuni River he had in his possession cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Rigby of 153 Last Field, Sophia denied the charge when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Tuesday.

The teary defendant told the court that he was being wrongfully accused by the police. He told the court that on the day in question he was standing at a bus shed opposite the police station with several other persons awaiting transportation to head into the Cuyuni Backdam.

The accused noted that ranks from the police station came and conducted a search on everyone and found a black bag, which concealed the cannabis.

“ Somebody stash the bag behind my haversack,” Rigby told the magistrate as tears rolled down his cheeks as he stated also that he was beaten by the police.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Neville Jeffers told the court that on the day in question, police saw the defendant with a blue haversack and conducted a search which unearthed a bulky black plastic bag in which marijuana was found concealed and he was arrested and charged.

Jeffers pointed out that when the ranks arrested Rigby with the drug he told them, “officer that is my own, I just going and drop off this fine shipment.”

Bail was refused and the matter was transferred to Bartica Magistrate’s Court for June 9.